Letter to the Editor: Reunions

This is a reflection on the recent planning of our Sevastopol Class of 1976 reunion. It could apply to family reunions, employee reunions and so on. 

In regard to this class reunion, it is a daunting task to locate all the classmates. People don’t stay in the same place very long, moving numerous times over the years. But miraculously, out of 76 in the class, we found 75. 

One would hope for 50-60% attendance. The reality, according to a recent study, is that about 20-30% of a graduating class attends class reunions. The number depends on how far people need to travel and how expensive it will be to attend.

I recently got together with a small group from my class. I hadn’t seen them in decades. I was a little nervous that there would be uncomfortable silence, but there wasn’t. There was laughter, reminiscing and talk about grandkids and other life events. It was a feel-good moment.

In the time warp since high school, most of us have acquired a profession, married and raised children. Of course there are challenges in life. There are also gratuitous circumstances. In a world of social media and less human contact, it is refreshing to share those experiences in person.

So where does all this rambling lead to? I believe that we, as human beings, are not intended to be loners. We are created to have meaningful relationships. Those relationships span the entire human experience, and it all started with our youth and high school relationships. 

When you discover the principles that make up successful relationships, you begin to understand life’s purpose. When we practice principles of sharing and concern for each other, it produces great outcomes. 

May we all have many more great outcomes. We need more in-person social interaction and less via cyber communication. It’s a good thing.

Forty-five people will be attending the Sevastopol Class of ’76 reunion at the Sawyer Park Pavilion on Sept. 4 around 5 pm. Stop and say hi – but not via your iPhone.

Dave Walker

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin